Share Update:

Ailing Cardinal George leads Palm Sunday Mass

Weakened by chemotherapy, Cardinal George found the strength through the Blessing of Palms outside to celebrating the beginning of Holy Week with hundreds.

The Cardinal was not about to greet parishioners after the Mass however.

In the past week, the Cardinal, who’s served as the leader of Chicago area Catholics since 1997, cancelled a planned trip to Rome later this month for the canonization of Popes John Paul II and John The XXIII. The ongoing side effects from chemotherapy will keep him in Chicago.

He also wrote a letter to the Vatican, asking that a search for his successor begin now.

The Cardinal was hospitalized for an infection shortly after receiving his first dose of chemotherapy, a setback he did not want to risk again by traveling overseas. For now, he says he’ll concentrate on celebrating Easter at home in Chicago, which could be his final one as cardinal.